Visiting the Other Side

Took a trip to the other side today.

Few countries have the lifestyle enjoyed in the US. Ecuador included. However, Ecuador is doing well in many ways. So finding and seeing the poor isn’t always easy to do. You must seek them.

Luke & Matt leading worship songs.

 During our time here we’ve served at a soup kitchen in Quito, visited the orphanage here in town, and walked streets in several cities and towns so we’ve seen a pretty large slice of Ecuadorian life. The poor are sprinkled here and there but today Dane, Luke and I visited a truly meager community. Dane and I were debating if the people here had more or less than the dump-based slum where we saw patients in Mexico. 

Welcome to Sicha Puma.

 

The concha (the simple structure in the picture), built by the residents, is the extent of the infrastructure here.

No roads, no electricity, no running water, no sidewalks… No neighborhood, almost. 

Homes are scattered in the head-high brush. You can see a metal roof here and there. There is one outhouse.

Matt and Amy Kappen, formerly of California, come here each Sunday with their children: Lilly, 5; Violet, 4; and Enoch, 1. 

Maria sharing a Bible lesson.

Together with Maria, two adult volunteers, and a few children from their church they put on a kids club to tell the children here who Jesus is. That He died for all our sins. That He loves you when it seems society doesn’t. That while one’s surroundings are sparse and hunger is not far away, there is a future and a hope in Him.

 These people belong to the Kichwa tribe and most of them came from the same jungle village so cousins abound. Jobs are rare in many jungle villages so their choices are to live like their ancestors or move. Many leave seeking better education for their children.

Hands up to answer a question about the Bible story. Matt & Amy's church in CA donated their extra green VBS T-shirts.

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This is a squatter community. If land isn’t actively worked or if it is abandoned in Ecuador, you can claim a chunk of it and build a home on it. Squatters even have some rights in a court of law.

 

 Following songs and a lesson by Maria, today’s special guest is announced: Hernan – a player from a local soccer team. He shares about his faith and then futball begins. Hernan acts as ref but Matt is in the mix... always helping the team that’s behind. 

Can’t see the soccer field? Well… the mud… the uncut grass... the two tall sticks pushed in the dirt at each end to mark the goals… that’s it. The Kappens tell me the kids will even play when puddles are on the field... which is often.

I feel sorry for their mothers. Washing all that slick clay out isn’t going to be easy considering their washing machines are rocks on the banks of the nearby river. But then, judging from how well these kids play soccer, I’m guessing muddy clothes are a regular occurrence.

Life knocks these folks down quite often. They walk a slippery slope of existence… The wives grow what they can alongside their homes while their husbands walk to the nearby town for manual labor jobs. 

Lorina and her baby.

These people, their clothes, their ground… all look tired, worn, and stretched.

I find my life stretching enough. Can’t imagine their walk.

Watching the soccer game: Lynnelle, Amy, Lilly, Dane. Notice we are all wearing muck boots.

Can’t imagine my walk without my faith. Support from our church family. Prayers from faith friends. Blessings and wisdom from above. And all the times you just know the only way life could shake out the ways it does is because of God’s hand.

Can’t imagine living their walk without faith. I always know the Lord will back me up, pick me up..... and someday…  take me up. 

What future do they have????

After the game, the kids enjoyed Tang and wawa de pan (a special holiday bread).

God knows their dilemma, their fragile life, their hurt, their hunger. 

He’s sending hope with Matt…

With Amy....

With their pastor's wife

 With Hernan...

Hernan awards best girl player, best boy player.

  

With Luke and Dane...

 

Hope walks into Sicha Puma village every Sunday afternoon.

No there aren’t sidewalks or running water there when they leave but there is love. Brotherly love... reflecting Christ's love.

And there is the new knowledge of a different future. 

An eternal future.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power...

~ 1 Peter 1:3-5

 

Leaving footprints of faith near Shell, Ecuador...

Lynnelle Allison, for the Allison tribe